Free agency is less than two weeks away, and teams around the National Football League will be keeping watch for needs at certain positions. Former Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower, who came off a Super Bowl win with the New England Patriots, is looking to test the waters in free agency.
Hightower capped off a spectacular season with 65 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and was known as “The Hero” after forcing a fumble in the fourth quarter that led to the Patriots’ comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
Hightower has everything that a football coach looks for in a linebacker: size, speed, pass rush capabilities and coverage skills. There’s not too many guys you see in the NFL that are 270 pounds that can run like running backs other than Houston Texans linebacker, Jadaveon Clowney.
Even though no one in the football world is sure where Hightower will land, if the ex-Crimson Tide All-American ends up in free agency, which ever team signs him will feel like they’ve won the lottery. He was coached by one of the greatest college football minds of all-time in Nick Saban, and had a stellar career in his four years at Alabama.
Hightower finished his career in Tuscaloosa with 234 tackles, five sacks and an interception. He was a part of two BCS national championship teams (2009, 2011) and a Southeastern Conference title squad in 2009. The Tennessee native has earned two Super Bowl rings in five years and has 404 tackles with 17 sacks in his NFL career.
San Francisco 49ers
According to Ninerswire, the San Francisco 49ers and new general manager John Lynch, who won a Superbowl with the Buccaneers in 2002, have $80 million dollars in cap space and will aim to rebuild a defense that ranked last in the NFL this past season. Season-ending injuries linebackers Navorro Bowman and Ray Ray Armstrong caused the 49ers to struggle. It’ll be a huge get for Lynch and the 49ers to land a player like Hightower, as he could draw attention from other players in free agency to travel with him to San Francisco.
Oakland Raiders
Khalil Mack plus Dont’a Hightower equals a living nightmare waiting to be unleashed. The Raiders are coming off an incredible season under third-year head coach Jack Del Rio, who won the Greasy Neale Professional Coach of the Year Award after finishing 12-4. Don’t be surprised if Hightower has interest in inking with Oakland, because the team still needs a linebacker to go alongside Khalil Mack. Hightower would be a good addition to a team that already runs a 3-4 scheme, and in the eyes of Jack Del Rio, this would be a huge pickup.
Although Hightower will be looking to get paid more, he’s still searching for an opportunity to win a third NFL title. Despite his abilities and needs at linebacker across the league, he will carefully look over his options. At this moment, the Bengals, Browns, Saints and Bears are in need of a top-tier linebacker.
As of right now, the Patriots have limited time to see what the plan is for Hightower. Will he stay with New England? Will he leave? Stay tuned football world.
